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MAGAZINE- DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012 EDITION
Dear Friends,
What’s new this Christmas? Nothing! At least… nothing that matters. There may be a new song in the charts. There may be new designs of wrapping paper, or something fresh in the realm of Christmas card design. There may be new adverts on TV or a film at the cinema. But they don’t matter. The great thing about Christmas is that there is nothing new! Christmas is the same. The fripperies will change; the heart is constant. The one thing that matters about Christmas is to remember an event: the coming of Jesus, the Christ, to live amongst us and transform human life and hope. Remembering that is Christmas, everything else is dressing. Just as clothes wear out and we buy new ones, but it’s still us wearing them, so the dressing of Christmas may – and will – change, but the essential Christmas remains the same. Thank God!
We don’t know a lot about the birth of Jesus. We know enough to marvel and worship. Matthew has an account, and Luke has an account, and they both tell us different things. Reading them we discover the birth of Jesus into an ordinary family in extraordinary circumstances. Censuses didn’t happen very often, but we know Quirinius was involved with two and this was the first of them. The guiding star does not happen very often, (every 794 years) but modern astronomical tables and contemporary astronomical tablets from Babylon show that it happened 7BC. King Herod the Great was a violent despotic king who thought nothing of slaughtering friend and foe alike: just the sort of man who in paranoid frenzy would order the destruction of a generation of boys in a village… and his son who succeeded him was no different. These things we know from history.
With what we find out about the times from other sources we read the accounts of Jesu’s birth in Matthew and Luke. The history fits; the story does not change.
God used ordinary people of faith to bring about the birth of Jesus, the Christ. He used the circumstances of the day to make it happen at the right place and the right time. As Paul wrote in his letter to the Galatians: ‘When the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons’ (Gal 4.4). It all fitted historically, and it all fitted theologically too. Paul succinctly puts the Christmas story (an ordinary birth as a Jew) with the Easter story (redemption, and inheritance of eternal life) together to help us see why it all happened.
The first part of that story is what we remember now, in Advent and Christmas, and it does not change. The truth of Christmas is that God sent His Son to live an ordinary life among us, but in so doing taught and demonstrated how life could be if we live truly in God’s way.
It appeared to be a very risky sending! Nothing special about Joseph and Mary; a very risky journey at nearly full-term pregnancy; a king prepared to kill anyone who was even the vaguest threat; a birth in ‘stable’, a place where animals were kept; attention to the child brought by a visit of some rich foreigners; a risky night escape running as political asylum seekers to Egypt… wow! If any time seemed too hard to survive, that was it!
But Christmas is about success. God succeeded in sending His Son at the right time for our salvation! Through being tuned in to what God was saying the Christ-child was kept safe and survived against the odds. Though being dressed differently as time goes by, none of this changes.
So we come to another Christmas. Nothing that matters about the story has changed. We tell it again, we read it again, and we enjoy the renewing of our memory of what happened.
Why? Because it affects our lives. It affects the way we live, the decisions we make, the hope we have, the faith that keeps us sane. It reminds us that when things are risky, when we see tyrants in power or unstable political systems, when we are frightened for our very lives, as we tune into God and place our trust in Him, we transform our human life and hope both now and in eternity.
That effect is not just for the feel-good days of Christmas and Boxing Day, and any family or friendship parties we may enjoy, but it goes on into the New Year. 2012 is going to be a special year for our country, with the Golden Jubilee and the Olympics. It can be a special year for us as a church fellowship, and each of us as followers of Christ, as we let the timeless Christ reign in our hearts and so hasten the day when the Kingdom of God will be seen in all its fullness.
May you enjoy God’s blessing in the Christmas Season and throughout 2012!
David
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is traditionally observed from the 18th to the 25th January - Hertford & District Churches Together will be holding a joint Service on Sunday 22nd January at St. Joseph’s Church at 3.00 pm
Some helpful words from the Bible
Know God, Know Calm, No God, No Calm The secret of being calm is knowing the God of Calm. The more you get to know him, the calmer and more at peace you will become within yourself.
Let God Be God Anxiety is calm’s greatest destroyer……when we are agitated or frightened by events in our lives, Let us learn to let God be God and accept his direction and leading.
Let God shape you. If you’re going through an unusual amount of grief and pain, don’t despair. The master potter is at work in your life. He sometimes has to break us to remake us.
Walk by Faith Each day begin your walk in the calm trust that God is at work in everything
Think Big Next tine somebody asks you, ‘ Who do you think you are?’, lift your head, square your shoulders, and confidently reply, ‘ I am a child Of God; I’m bought with a price; I’m loved with an everlasting love; I’m blessed coming in and going out; I’m the head not the tail…. And if you have a few more hours to spare, I’ll tell you the rest!
AND FINALLY………
Find Quiet Time It’s good to have a daily ‘quiet time’, an opportunity every day to give God Time to speak in our lives as we meditate on his Word.
Jan Carter
Christmas Arrangements
The board in the Church will be available for your Christmas cards to the Church Fellowship and as usual the post box will be in the vestibule if you still wish to give cards to individual members.
Sunday 18th December – Afternoon Carol Service at 4.00 pm this will be taken by Rev. David Bradburn with the Broxbourne church choir. Refreshments will be served after the service. A great opportunity to bring along your friends and neighbours.
(There is no Midnight Communion Service this year)
Sunday 25th December – Family Service Led by Melanie Smith
The Mimram Singers in Concert
SUNDAY, 4th DECEMBER At Hertford United Reformed Church At 3.00 pm
‘A Lullaby for Jesus’
Free entry with an opportunity to donate to Isabel Hospice and a Church Charity (With refreshments)
Churches Together Report of Meeting held 2nd November 2011
Transition Hertford: Ray Bomber explained the aims and how the organisation is working for a more sustainable life-style, they are training advisors on using green energy in partnership with East Herts. District Council.
Review of events 2010/11 Open Air Carols: not quite as successful as in previous years any future event should be held nearer Christmas with a school band. Christmas Alone – successful as usual Unity Service at St. Andrew’s was packed for a joyful occasion. Lent Courses: went well with good resources. Thanks were given to Alison Warne for organising. Christian Aid: Walk and Lent Lunches did well. Thanks given to Quakers for their room Good Friday Witness: stirring and unforgettable, use of coffin showed the truly shocking death of Christ Community Day at Castle: good stalls but rain kept people away and other events on Hartham clashed Care & Concern for the Community: Different churches and other faiths represented. Also mayor and school heads. Praised and should be repeated. URC Farewell Lunch for Rev. Derek Jones: The meeting acknowledged his enthusiasm and praise for the unity and work of H&DCT
Treasurer’s Report Good year as subscriptions had restored the balance. Waitrose had helped with Christmas Alone. More support will be needed for Street Pastors in the coming year. Subscriptions will be halved this year back to £1 per head.
Election of Officers for 2011-2012 Chairman – Fr. Terry Phipps (St. Joseph’s) Vice-Chair – Janet Bird (All Saints) Secretary - volunteer/s are needed Treasurer – Colin Bird Christian Aid – Jenny Aitken Auditor – Keith Street Minutes Secretary – Margaret Hogg
Reports: Christmas Alone: has been arranged, volunteers needed early, posters and application forms are being distributed. Christian Aid Week: May 13-20 Walk on May 12th £11,000.00 raised, thanks was expressed to all who helped. Faith in Print: books offered to 3 schools but only Hertingfordbury took it up this year. Young Life: Report given by Jack Scarfe on an encouraging year with increased work with local Secondary Schools. Street Pastors: 21 trained volunteers patrol Fridays and Saturdays. 8,300 hours had been spent in Hertford and Ware (observers welcome) More volunteers needed to help, listen and care on the streets. Generous individuals donated last year but this year finances will be stretched.
Future Activities for 2012 Christian Unity Service: 22nd January 3 pm at St. Joseph’s Lent Groups: Possible St. Albans Diocesan Lent Course and possibly a speaker. Alison Warne to organise groups. Women’s World Day of Prayer Friday 2 March St. Andrew’s Good Friday Witness: All Saints to organise Civic & Community Service possibly on 3rd June in Castle Grounds to coincide with Royal Diamond Jubilee celebrations London Olympics: Janet Bird has been appointed a local “Ambassador” she described ways of helping visitors and the “More Than Gold” project was also highlighted especially in the Broxbourne area. New Minister at URC: is the Revd. David Bradburn from Broxbourne as part of a shared ministry team with Hertford, Broxbourne and Cheshunt URC Churches.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This poem is dedicated to Sue Lawrance (although the geraniums have been replaced by pansies!)
My geraniums are still flowering Though the lawn is white with frost, Their cheerful heads, bright crimson, Boldly stating all’s not lost.
Though the summer is long over, My brave symbols stand their test, For their message filled with courage Is for me the very best.
Just stand firm and face each challenge, Try to smile, hold high your head, In God’s shelter and protection You’ll find hope and calm instead.
For as stormy weather passes And a rainbow brings a sign, Stealthily time brings its healing, And one day all will be fine.
Thank you Sue for the joy the church garden gives us all Shirley
As our church supports FutureHope I have copied their latest report below:
Last Four Months with Future Hope Young People – We are working with around 15 young people in our one-to-one work. One of the young people we used to work with has recently been in touch through a text message and said ‘I now have Hope for the Future thanks to FutureHope’ we are seeing all the young people we work with growing and developing. Volunteers – We now have 5 All Nations students that volunteer on the Bus, it has been a great blessing as we are now able to send out a constant detached team on a Friday Night whist running the Bus. Funding – We have continued to be blessed with gifts from churches in Hertford and Ware. We have also been very successful in receiving grants from the Councillors Locality Budget Scheme which we used for the Summer Bus and also will use to get the Bus into Ware. Summer Bus – This Summer we took the Bus out on four Sunday afternoons, we provided the young people workshops in Circus Skills, Healthy Eating and DJing and also a time to look at spiritually with them. These four Sundays were highly successful and a lot of relationships were built with young people we haven’t met before. Refurbished Bus – This Summer we have refurbished the upstairs of the Bus, we have moved the Prayer Room wall to create an area for card games and group discussion and we have transformed the Prayer Room to ‘Soul Space’ a room that now focuses more on reflections, discussions and prayer. We are trying to make it similar to a 24/7 style of prayer room with different resources to engage on a deeper level. As mentioned in the past report, we are really grateful to Hertford Baptist Church for raising nearly £6,000 that has paid for a proper heating system, it has made a massive difference and it has made the Bus a warmer place to be on these cold nights! Bus – Young people really like the changes we have made on the Bus, so far we have had 99 visits over four Fridays, young people are engaging with the Bus on a different level and also getting involved in the new ‘Soul Space’ area. Schools Work – We ran a Self Harm Support Group in Pinewood School for young people with moderate learning difficulties, this went really well, three girls came to the group and all of them showed signs of progression and created their own Support Group that continues on.
Next Four Months Fundraiser – We are holding our fundraiser on Thursday 2nd February, it is a Caribbean Calypso themed night where we will also be showing our new promotional film ‘Journey’, highlighting all different aspects of our work. Bus – We are continuing to work with the Ware Police and East Herts Council to find a suitable place to park the bus on alternate Friday nights. We are now looking to start it in January and promoting it over November and December. Cross Pollinate – We are continuing to support Harlow Youth Vision, there work is going really well and it has been a blessing to see how they have grown, going from strength to strength. Our partnership with MAPS, a mentoring project in Sutton, has grown and they are coming to train our mentors with their award winning training programme this December. We are also looking at supporting a new project in Plymouth. Schools Work – We are planning on going into schools more over the next year, even with the Bus! We are also excited about an opportunity that has risen to work with parents of young people.
Plans for the Future Bus – We are excited that Ware College Art Department have agreed to come up with some designs for the outside of the bus as one of their art projects they hope to do this for us in January Future Plans – The management board are currently praying and discussion the future plans for FutureHope and will be sharing these at our Caribbean Calypso fundraiser.
THE FINAL INSPECTION
The soldier stood and
faced God,
I know I don't deserve a
place,
TOOLS for SELF RELIANCE [TFSR]
We now have a collector on our doorstep in Hertford.
TFSR is a charity which collects hand tools and sewing machines, refurbishes them and sends them directly to partner groups of artisans co-ops, colleges, women's refuges and other grassroots groups in seven African countries. We also help them with training, health education, business skills and funding for their projects. We have been doing this with great success for 30 years. Apart from 8 employees, the whole operation is run by about 700 volunteers nationwide, including some 70 groups in many locations who collect and refurbish the items, raise funds and do publcity. The organisation has two employees in Africa making contacts, getting feedback and doing progress reports for our newsletters.
About me -My name is Peetamber and I have been a volunteer since 2006, working mainly by myself. I have recently moved to Hertford from Palmers Green and I’m looking to form a group in Hertford. I have a small workshop at home and could train a volunteer or two in that space. I would plan to have one evening a week, initally, for this. I am retired so daytimes are possible. If you think you would like to be involved in ANY of these activities,please do phone me and we can have a chat. Do have a look at the national website www.tfsr.org.uk
Yours Cooperatively, Peetamber Robins Home phone: 01992 554 392
FILM NIGHT - for World Aids Day on Thursday 1st December 2011 at 7:30pm @ Hertford Methodist Church
SHOWING "AFRICA UNITED" "Using only a World Cup wall chart for a map three Rwandan kids walk 3000 miles to the Soccer World Cup in South Africa in pursuit of an unlikely dream. Along the way they gather a tribe of broken and brilliant characters who help them negotiate often bizarre situations. Encounter an Africa that few people ever get to see and experience the hard reality of this epic walk through seven countries, with the joy, laughter and hope that comes from making such an incredible journey together". Tea, coffee & cakes will be served for a suggested donation of £2. All are welcome so spread the word. Connect & Encourage Christians suffering for their faith! This Christmas, why not send a Christmas card to a Christian who is facing some sort of persecution, or even imprisonment, for their faith? Christian Solidarity Worldwide has a scheme called ‘Connect & Encourage’ which helps you to do just that. CSW works for religious freedom through advocacy and human rights worldwide, and can provide you with names and addresses of people to contact. As CSW explains: “Often we can't visit those who are persecuted for their faith, but we can still encourage them. You can be an encouragement by sending these prisoners a card or a letter to bring them hope. This touches them right where they are, demonstrating that they're not forgotten. Your cards also remind the prison authorities that we haven't forgotten the injustice of the prisoner's situation, and are persistently advocating for their welfare in the international community.” The people listed in Connect & Encourage – from human rights activists and lawyers to church leaders, persecuted Christians and their families – benefit tremendously from your letters or cards. For more details, go to: www.csw.org.uk/connectandencourage.htm
Wiped out....... I Just got home and found all the windows and doors open and everything has gone….. What kind of sick twisted person does that to someone’s advent calendar!
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